The Susquehanna Township High School auditorium was filled during the school board meeting on Monday September 23, 2013. The school board postponed its vote on extending contracts for two assistant superintendents. The board had planned on voting on the extensions tonight.
Photo by: Christine Baker | cbaker@pennlive.com

"An investigation revealed no impropriety on the part of the administration." – Susquehanna Township School Board President Michael Ferguson

Susquehanna Township School Board apologized Monday night for the
actions of one of its own – member Jesse Rawls Sr.'s January claim that a
counselor hired in 2011 was unqualified.

Rawls had claimed that the administration bypassed eight
or nine candidates with secondary-school credentials and hired Superintendent Susan M. Kegerise's niece, identified as Erica Hamilton, as middle school counselor without the
required credentials.

"The board investigated
the allegations, and an investigation revealed no impropriety on the part of
the administration," board President Michael Ferguson read in a prepared
statement.

Ferguson's statement kicked off a board meeting in the high
school auditorium, jammed with students and district residents airing concerns
over district classroom troubles.

Through the teachers' union, Hamilton filed a grievance over
Rawls' claim. Not all board members agreed that the full board should
apologize, Ferguson said, but "grievances are settled by the entire board."

"On behalf of the Susquehanna Twp. School Board, we would like
to offer an apology to Erica Hamilton for those prior comments that impugned
her qualifications and ability to serve as a school counselor," Ferguson read. "Based
upon discussions with the administration, her colleagues, and the union, Erica Hamilton
has served and continues to serve the district and its students in a very
capable and professional manner."

The board and district agree to adhere to the collective
bargaining agreement "as it relates to publicly criticizing individual staff
members," Ferguson said.

Hamilton was hired in August 2011, according to board
minutes. In January, the board approved tuition reimbursement of $1,287 for Hamilton relating to a "Sec.
School Counselor Practicum." State law requires middle- and high-school counselors
to have secondary school certification.

Jason Kutulakis, attorney for Kegerise, said before the meeting there have been "various investigations, basically
running that allegation up every possible flagpole."

"It is my understanding that there is not a scintilla of
evidence to suggest there was even a reasonable basis for Mr. Rawls to make
such an accusation." Kutulakis said.

The district has no policy regarding nepotism in hiring, district
spokesperson Susan Anthony told PennLive.com earlier this year. State law
requires board members to recuse themselves from votes on hiring their relatives
and is silent on hiring of relatives of superintendents and staff, according to
the Pennsylvania School Boards Association.

During a break in the meeting, Rawls said Hamilton is "a
great teacher. I have no qualms with that." But when she was hired, he said, the
district sought a counselor certified to teach kindergarten through 12th
grade, not just the state's k-6 certification for elementary-school employment.

"I mentioned it to the superintendent and everybody else,"
he said. "They changed their rules."